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Where Garner the footballer is concerned, however, Warburton has no split loyalties.

The 'cult hero' tag can mean many things. Invariably attached to strikers who give their all, but don't score enough goals, the charge is already being levelled at the £1.8million signing from Preston North End.

Yet Garner has won over the Rangers fans with other attributes.

Offering a physical presence, his wholehearted approach has brought more bookings than goals so far. Yet Warburton believes that will change. Garner, he argues, is a better footballer than anyone gives him credit for.

Rangers boss Mark Warburton gives out instructions during a training session on Thursday

'You would have thought he had scored four or five goals with the ovation he received as he came off in the Hearts game,' said the Rangers boss, 'but he hadn't scored.

'I think that just tells you that the crowd respond to the work ethic and the commitment and the desire that he displays in every minute. The players, and we as staff, can learn from it, the fact that he is totally committed in everything that he does. It is how Joe is.

'I can remember back to when we signed Joe. Every time Brentford played Preston, our centre backs would come off and say: 'What a pain in the backside he is!' They were black and blue from playing against him.

'He is a real handful, an old-fashioned centre forward, and the crowd respond to the fact that he gives everything.'

Edging closer to a suspension, Garner plays with an edge which niggles opponents. Unchannelled it risks spilling over, yet Warburton is prepared to take his chances with the inevitable suspensions. What Garner brings in other ways, he believes, is worth it.

'I was disappointed with his booking at Hamilton,' continued Warburton. 'I thought Joe and (Mikey) Devlin had a really good battle, a great battle. Then they got booked in the 91st minute. I didn't see the point in that. I thought the referee handled it really well up until that point. That, for me, is a nonsensical booking. But the way he plays game he is going to pick up yellow cards.

'You can't lose the edge, but at the same time you have to play within the rules of the game. There is a balance there. But he is a senior pro, he knows what he is doing.

'All joking apart, I think referees know how he plays. They know he's a hard player, and I thought the referee at Hamilton did a great job. It is common sense. If somebody steps over the boundary, they have got to pay the price.

'If you stay within the confines of the laws, you should be fine. I think it is good for the game. It is competitive.'

Garner doesn't stand much chance of winning many Player of the Year votes from his opponents. Niggly, aggressive and in their faces, it's a style of play supporters love. Yet Warburton objects to crude stereotyping of the striker, insisting he has much to offer as a footballer.

'People forget he's a very good player,' he said. 'His movement, his link-up play, his touch, his awareness are all very, very good. We knew what we were bringing to the club. We are delighted he has settled in so quickly. The goals will come. He is frustrated at not scoring more goals, but his contribution to the team is there for all to see.'

Warburton wants a different type of player in January. A cultured, goalscoring midfielder is the priority, with Brentford playmaker Jota the main target.

Garner is put through his paces ahead of a busy festive schedule north of the border

Currently on loan at Eibar in his homeland, it's unclear if the Spaniard will fancy the vagaries of a Scottish winter.

Warburton would like to make two signings early in January although he refuses to take anything for granted.

'We hope we are very close to two of them, fingers crossed,' he said. 'But until they sign for you, you have to man-mark them – literally.

'You man mark them until they are over the line. Some people stay in a hotel to make sure another club doesn't come along and take them.

'I know of a big club in London who had a guy in on trial for a week. He impressed them, agreed a deal and wanted to go home to get some clothes.

'They man-marked him all the way to Terminal Five. To the point where they saw him into the departure lounge – where another club were waiting to sign him. That was it.

'At that point you go, 'Wow' — that's the nature of the game.

'Until players sign for us, you never, ever count your chickens.'

A striker is also on the list, but problems with key summer signings Joey Barton, Niko Krancjar and Jordan Rossiter leave the Ibrox side shorthanded in the middle of the pitch.

'We are looking at targets,' said Warburton. 'We are very clear on what we are looking for.

'We are looking in midfield, we have lost players for different reasons.

'January is notoriously difficult so loans are an obvious option for us.

'We need players of the right quality – players who can add quality to the team. It's not about numbers.